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Depression Treatment For Elderly People Depression in older adults can worsen their health and increase the chance of death. It is crucial to consult with a doctor to ensure they receive the correct treatment. Many factors can make it difficult to recognize depression in older adults. They can be misdiagnosing depression symptoms as normal part of aging, or masking them with coexisting medical conditions, a insufficient social support, and stigma. Antidepressants Antidepressants are usually the first stage of treatment in a lot of cases. These medications can boost neurotransmitters inside the brain, which can enhance mood as well as reduce depression symptoms. These drugs are usually utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy. It could take several weeks for them to start working and it is crucial to follow the exact dosage instructed. It is essential to examine the depression of patients who are elderly for co-morbidities, and take appropriate care of them. Often medical illnesses like stroke, heart disease and chronic pain can trigger depression in patients who are older. They may also be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of certain medication. The stigma of aging keeps people from seeking medical assistance for their emotional problems. Depression symptoms can be confused with other conditions such as eating or pain problems caused by dentures. These symptoms are made worse due to the lack of social support and can be difficult to communicate with family members. Older adults are more likely to suffer from vascular depression, which is caused by an increase in blood flow to the brain. As compared to other types of depression, vascular depression is associated with more severe cognitive impairment and less responsiveness to treatment. Fortunately, this type of depression can be treated using a variety of medications, such as SSRIs TCAs and SNRIs. The medication used to treat depression among older patients should be adapted to the individual's needs since they are more susceptible to adverse reactions. Doctors should begin with lower doses and then increase them gradually to account for age-related pharmacokinetic differences. They should also take into account the impact other medications and supplements can have on the patient's response to antidepressants. It is essential that doctors educate patients and their relatives about the symptoms of depression and treatment options. This will help patients comprehend their condition and adhere to their medication regimen. It is also important to inform patients know about the time lag for antidepressant effects. A detailed history is vital to evaluate depression among the elderly. This should include the time when depression first began to manifest, its relationship to other stressors in life and previous episodes of depression as well as any underlying medical or physical disease. It is also crucial to determine if the symptoms of depression are a result of medication or other health-related factors, such as menopause or seasonal affective disorder. Electroconvulsive Therapy Electroconvulsive therapy, commonly referred to as ECT is a method of helping the brain do a kind of reset to reduce depression symptoms. It is typically prescribed to patients who are unable to respond to medication or who have life-threatening depression that is severe like those who have suicidal feelings or medical conditions that are dangerous. Most insurance companies and Medicare provide ECT. It's usually given in the hospital setting. You'll be given a general anesthetic while it's done and you'll not feel anything during the procedure. It can take six ECT treatments to improve your depression. It is possible to experience confusion for a number of hours or even days after the procedure. It is possible to lose memory in the immediate aftermath of ECT. However, these issues are generally temporary. It could take several months before you begin to remember things. You could be more vulnerable to complications caused by ECT when you have an existing history of heart disease. People with preexisting cardiac ailments should stay away from ECT unless it's advised by a doctor. Recent research has compared the rates for cardiac complications in patients suffering from pre-existing heart conditions and those without. The study found that the rate of complications was significantly higher in the group with pre-existing cardiac disease. Researchers suggested that a reduction in the use of ECT in older patients with heart problems could lower the rate of complications. ECT is effective for a variety of depressive disorders including unipolar, bipolar and mania. It is also used to treat other mental disorders, like schizophrenia and psychosis triggered by antiparkinsonian medications. It's also a possible treatment for dementia that is severe, especially when it's caused by a life-threatening medical condition. You and your doctor should conduct a thorough psychiatric assessment before you undergo ECT. Your doctor will review your medical records to determine if you suffer from any medical conditions that could impact your treatment. If you suffer from heart disease your doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram (EKG) or chest X-ray before you receive ECT. Psychotherapy It can be challenging to identify and treat depression in people who are elderly. The stigma attached to mental illness can make it difficult for older adults to admit that they are depressed. They may be embarrassed to seek help, and may be afraid of being a burden on their families. Depression can also increase an older person's risk of developing heart disease and make it harder to recover from other illnesses. Psychotherapy is a viable treatment option for depression in older people. comprehensive depression treatment is a common disorder among the elderly, but many of these patients aren't diagnosed or treated. This is due to a variety reasons, including misdiagnosis and inadvertent ignorance by healthcare professionals. Patients may be suffering from symptoms such as inactivity, apathy in daily activities, sleep disorders and frequent thoughts of death. These symptoms are commonly attributed to aging and dementia however, they are usually caused by underlying depression. A thorough evaluation of a patient suffering from depression should include a thorough history-taking review of the patient's responses to previous treatments and laboratory tests as well. A minimum battery should include haemogram, liver function tests, renal function tests and urine analysis. In the case of a possible nutritional deficit different tests, such as thyroid function tests, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, should be performed. The initial phase of treatment of depression should be focused on achieving remission and must be adapted to the needs of the patient. In conjunction with antidepressant medications therapy, a program of psychotherapy is recommended. The psychotherapy can be short-term or it could be long-term. It could be aimed at solving overt behaviors and cognition or focused on understanding and changing deeply-rooted emotional and relationship issues. In the maintenance and continuation phase the same antidepressant must be employed as in the acute phase. This should be done in conjunction with careful monitoring of rate of remission and relapse. Monitoring the relapse rate is also vital for older patients since they have a higher tendency to relapse compared to younger patients. Social Support Social support is a crucial component of mental well-being. People with strong social networks are less at risk of risk of depression and are better able to handle stress. It is also essential to maintain an immune system that is strong. This is especially true for elderly adults, who have higher levels of stress and have less healthy strategies for coping. This is likely to be the reason that older adults require more social support than younger adults. In reality the absence of support from family and friends is linked to poor health outcomes for older adults. Social support can help lessen the impact of negative events in life, like the loss of a loved-one or a serious illness. It can also have a positive effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex (HPA) and noradrenergic systems. To improve the quality of life for patients it is crucial to recognize any issues in this region and address the issues. There are a variety of ways healthcare providers can offer support to an elderly person who is depressed. These include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy electroconvulsive therapy, as well as transcranial magnetic stimulation. In addition to improving mood these treatments can also improve function and increase independence. The quality of the care the patient receives will determine the extent of their recovery. Social support is defined as emotional support and instrumental support as well as an underlying sense of belonging and community. Emotional support can be defined as the ability of a person to express their emotions and concerns to others. Instrumental support means receiving help for tasks. Informational support involves obtaining advice from a reliable source. In Vietnam there are a myriad of types of social support available, including immediate family neighbors, friends and professional aiders. In the case of mental health treatment social support has been proven to enhance the quality of life of elderly patients, and reduce mortality and morbidity due to suicide and medical ailments. This is also linked to lower costs for psychiatric treatment and health treatment. This is an important benefit for both public and private healthcare systems.